We consider a non-repetitive manufacturing environment where the first stage will successively process different types of items that require different set up modes. Optimal sublot sizes are determined by studying the trade-off between the cost and time spent in restoration and rework. In...

We consider a non-repetitive manufacturing environment where the first stage will successively process different types of items that require different set up modes. Optimal sublot sizes are determined by studying the trade-off between the cost and time spent in restoration and rework. In...

At its Deeside plant in North Wales, Pilkington Micronics produces 0.4‐4mm glass panels for use in LCD and emissive displays for watches, calculators and laptop computers. The material for these panels is cut to size, ground and packed at Deeside. Describes the automation of the packing...

Unique dual gantry robots from ABB handle trays and totes of mail at postal sorting centers. Automation has increased the efficiency and accuracy of distributing mail to containers which are used to move the mail on to other post offices or to other sorting stations within the distribution...

A non‐contact end‐effector was applied to lift three different materials which have different physical properties. These materials are mica (as rigid material), carton (as semi‐rigid material) and non‐rigid material (woven fabric). This end‐effector operates on the principle of...

Purpose – To provide a concise briefing on the developments in robotic welding. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on the ABB “Open Days” held at its UK operation. Findings – Gives information on the launch of MultiArc; the arc welding application based on its MultiMove...

Purpose – To provide a concise briefing on a robot hand. Design/methodology/approach – The approach is to present briefly the development and features of a robot hand by the Shadow Robot Company for one of its customers. Findings – Finds that the robot hand replicates the characteristics...

Purpose – The capability to perform dexterous operations in an autonomous manner would greatly enhance the productivity of robotic operations. In this paper, we present a new methodology for vision‐based grasping of objects or parts using a three‐finger hand as a gripper of a robotic...

Purpose – Semiconductor manufacturing industry requires highly accurate robot operation with short install/setup downtime. Design/methodology/approach – We develop a fast, low cost and easy‐to‐operate calibration system for wafer‐handling robots. The system is defined by a fixture and...

Purpose – Robotic hands are still a long way from matching the grasping and manipulation capability of their human counterparts, but computer simulation may help us understand this disparity. We present our publicly available simulator, and describe our research projects involving the system...